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Cleveland native remembers playing “mean elf” in a Christmas classic

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Cleveland native remembers playing “mean elf” in a Christmas classic


CLEVELAND — Not many movies stand the test of time, but “A Christmas Story” is a genuine classic. 


What You Need To Know

  • One northeast Ohio native had a small but memorable part in “A Christmas Story”
  • The 1983 film only lasted a month in the box office
  • Drew Hocevar may be remembered for playing the “mean elf” in the film, but he’s anything but

The 1983 film only lasted a month in the box office but has since become a cult classic, drawing fans to the Cleveland home where it was shot all year long. One northeast Ohio native had a small but memorable part in the film and made lifelong friendships.

Drew Hocevar may be remembered for playing the “mean elf” in the film, but he’s anything but.

Known as the “male elf” in the credits, it’s the only acting role Hocevar has ever auditioned for. He was working at Higbees department store when he got the part.

“They just called me, and I got the elf part!” he said.

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He said it was just something fun to do. Being a teacher is what really paid the bills. Hocevar is a former special education teacher and now volunteers as a mechanic working on the merry-go-round at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Some of the artifacts he saved from the movie are on display at the museum.

“I snagged my hat and ran,” he said.

He said the rest of the costume was thrown away.

Hocevar’s cast-signed poster and bb-gun are on display at the museum

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The museum has a few other special “A Christmas Story” displays, including Lego sculptures depicting memorable scenes from the movie including Hocevar’s scene of him pushing kids down a slide on a fake snow-topped mountain.

Over 40 years later he remains friends with some of the cast including his elf counterpart and recently had lunch with her.

The movie plays numerous times throughout the holiday season, but Hocevar said he tends not to watch. His friends, however, have a special name for Christmas Day.

“24 hours of Drew!” he said.



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Cleveland, OH

Fire crews battle Cleveland duplex blaze, ammunition heard popping inside

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Fire crews battle Cleveland duplex blaze, ammunition heard popping inside


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Fire responded to a 2 1/2 story side-by-side duplex fire Monday afternoon.

According to Cleveland Fire, the call came in just after 5 p.m. at 2154 and 2156 W 98th St.

The fire started in a second floor bedroom that spread to the attic.

Due to the size of the house and the volume of the fire, an extra engine and ladder companies were called to assist.

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Cleveland Fire said a total of eight adults and three children were displaced from the fire and the Red Cross was called to assist.

Fire crews battle Cleveland duplex blaze, ammunition heard popping inside(Source: WOIO)

Firearms were inside the structure and firefighters said they could hear ammunition going off as they fought the fire.

The fire also extended to an old tree that caught fire.

Total estimated loss is $120,000, Cleveland Fire said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no injuries were reported.

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Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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Cleveland, OH

Series Preview: Guardians at Yankees

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Series Preview: Guardians at Yankees


Divisional Round - New York Yankees v Cleveland Indians - Game Five

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 11, 2017: The New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians 5-2 in game five of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 11, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by: 2017 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Diamond Images/Getty Images



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Cavaliers obvious draft day win is the opposite move anyone expects

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Cavaliers obvious draft day win is the opposite move anyone expects


The next step towards a true NBA Finals run is perplexing, to say the least, for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though the Cavs reached the Eastern Conference Finals, they finished the 2026 Playoffs with an 8-10 record, which is the worst possible record for any team to have at that stage of the postseason.

Entering the offseason, chatter is centered around Cleveland either cashing in everything for a 2027 run or tearing down the core to enter a rebuild. Ultimately, the Cavs are incapable of the latter with depleted draft capital and few young players left on the roster. Staying the course and taking steps towards a more well-rounded roster is the only option available to the Cleveland basketball club.

The NBA Draft offers the Cavaliers the best opportunity to do so, finding young talent on team-friendly contracts. Currently, however, the Cavs’ draft capital is minimal at best with no control over their first-round picks until 2030 and no second-round draft picks for the foreseeable future.

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Last summer, the Cavaliers entered the new second apron of the luxury tax, a new, highly restrictive tier for the highest-paying franchises. Cleveland was the only team to enter the apron last summer and not find a way out. As the league’s most expensive team, the Cavaliers must discover routes to add talent and manipulate their cap space.

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Sitting at 29th overall this year, Cleveland needs navigate the draft with more in mind than the best talent on the board after 28 picks. To win the draft this year, the Cavs must make an unorthodox, unexpected move.

The Cavaliers need to trade away their draft pick

Many of the best talent expected to be available in the late first round has opted to return to college, selecting the NIL path over an immediate rise to the pros. Names like Tounde Yessoufou, Amari Allen and Tyler Tanner are out of the draft and unavailable for the Cavaliers.

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For a team looking for any opportunity to improve financial flexibility, the Cavaliers should be wary of selecting in the first round at all with so much talent leaving the draft entirely. This year, a first-year player selected at pick 29 will be guaranteed a salary of $3,018,240. With so many prospects avoiding the draft, the talent available for the Cavaliers will be more akin to a typical second-rounder, making that $3 million price tag impractical.

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Cleveland saw success last season in the second round, grabbing Tyrese Proctor and signing him to a multi-year standard contract. While a standard deal is rare for a second-round prospect to receive immediately, the Cavs did so to add a young, promising rookie on a cost-controlled contract.

Second-round players are not guaranteed any salaries or a main roster spot. Often, players in the second round enter a two-way deal. As of pick 31 and beyond, the Cavaliers would have better financial control for the young talent.

If the Cavs place their pick on the trade market, they could fall back into the early second round and accumulate another two second-round picks for the future in order to replicate their Proctor gamble. While players like Allen and Yessoufou are off the table, plenty of other talents will still be on the board in the early second round for the Cavaliers to target.

The San Antonio Spurs (42 and 44), Sacramento Kings (34 and 45) and Brooklyn Nets (33 and 43) have multiple second-round picks this year, which would make a trade with the Cavs to move into the first round a great deal on both sides.

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Entering next season with another affordable rookie and future second-round picks is an invaluable win for a team with such an inflated salary sheet. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not likely to remain in the second apron longer than team owner Dan Gilbert deems necessary, and finding creative paths to financial freedom will be paramount to stay competitive within the confines of the new luxury tax system.

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